Saturday, December 29, 2018
When winter arrived, a man-cold arrived with it. I don’t know why, but those seem especially draining on me. No fever, but aches and runny nose and watery eyes. It gets me down quickly, and this time, I’m not bouncing back very fast. Given my many previous experiences with a man-cold, I went to see my doctor (a nurse practitioner, really) Thursday before Christmas, in hopes of heading this off like Barney Fife would do — nip it in the bud. But her shot and medications did nothing to relieve my symptoms. I sniffled through Christmas, limiting my exposure to outside cold and inside hugs with the granddaughters. I did not want to give them my dreaded illness. Because I was not sensing any improvement, I called my NP again last Thursday, and she was so booked up that she could not be seen for 6 days! (I guess I’m not the only one packing around this mess) So, I decided to go in to the local Quick Care facility, run by the hospital. The wait there was nearly 2 hours. I got a shot of steroids, and some more antibiotics. I may be in the beginning stages of starting to feel some relief. I just can’t recall having a head cold stick around for about 2 weeks!
The steroid shot has a side effect on me–interrupting my sleep at night. Well, the last couple nights while lying there wide awake, and between intermittent prayers, some song lyrics came to mind. I share them here:
My Winter Man-Cold Land
Sung to tune of Winter Wonderland
Winter hits, with a man-cold
Pretty quick, it gets real old
The watery eyes
The sneezing and sighs
Walking through this winter man cold land
Runny nose. Are my eyes red?
All I want, is a clear head
I’m blowing my nose
That’s just how it goes
Walking through my winter man cold land
Waited a long time to see the doctor
And she says there’s not much she can do
Go a second time to see the doctor
To hear her say, “Be glad it’s not the flu”
Spending days, by the fire
My red nose, glowing brighter
Recuperation
Is not very fun
Walking through my winter man cold land
—
Yesterday, Brandon took the new trailer on its ‘maiden voyage’ with the Peterbilt to ADM at Newburgh, Indiana to deliver some soybeans. I didn’t feel well enough to get out and take any pictures; I just watched him out the window as he passed by on his way out. I’m spending most hours in my big recliner, and keeping out of the chilly outside air. I don’t want to do anything that will prolong this man-cold!
Here’s hoping and praying that the New Year ’19 starts off with me feeling better than I do today. I hope you’ll start off the new year in a wonderful way. May you be blessed as we get settled into 2019.
